We are the Cunninghame Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Linda S.
Grade B+, 8.5 miles, ascent 2000ft, 6hrs, This walk begins in Fairlie and takes the established woodland trail of Fairlie Glen. It continues on Fairlie Moor on tussocky heather and grass, open hills and indistinct tracks up Blaeloch Hill, around Ward Hill and a return via Kelburn Glen and the Dark Plantation to Fairlie Glen.
We will meet at Morrison’s, Stevenston at 8.20am for a 8.30am departure and start the walk at 9am from the Fairlie Viewpoint car park that is off the A78 at the south of Fairlie.
We cross the A78 road to Station Road and go across the rail bridge where the Fairlie Glen woodland path begins. This is a lovely old woodland with the Fairlie Burn’s waterfalls to entice us up and around Fairlie Castle. This is a steep climb in places, taking us up to a kissing gate and the beginning of Fairlie Moor where we walk a narrow path through the heather and over a stile to our first tea break on rocks beside waterfalls.
We climb a little then follow Outermoor Burn towards Kelburn Wind Farm and our first cairn. On the downwards slope we’ll see the wreckage of a WWII fighter aircraft that crashed in 1944.
Blaeloch Hill with its companion little Blae Loch soon come into view as we approach our second cairn of the day. Downhill a little and we start to follow the Clea Burn. We will stop for lunch at the gabion by the side of the windfarm path then walk half a mile on its hard path before heading off across grassland again, around a copse of fir trees, through a farm gate and across Clea Burn at a crumbly ford. From there, we walk dirt tracks to the gate in the the old wall of Kelburn Estate then its down through the mature woodland of Kelburn Glen and the Dark Plantation with beautiful views across Cumbrae, Arran and the lochs. Through Kelburn Estate, we emerge at Fairlie Castle and retrace our steps down Fairlie Glen and back to our cars at Fairlie Viewpoint.
This walk is of open hillsides, tussocky grass and heather, following faint paths which is fairly strenuous walking. It is boggy in places and requires crossing small burns and climbing one stile. Good walking boots, are essential. Gaiters and poles recommended.
The start point is near Fairlie Rail Station and as the walk passes there, there is no problem in joining us as we pass the station. The 585 bus travels the main A78 route.
Morrison's, Stevenston in the far corner of the car park near the big roundabout on the A78 bypass.
Fairlie Viewpoint car park that is off the A78 at the south of Fairlie, ///officers.dumping.forklift.
